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yeah my roommate does nothing about his hiv, me on the other hand take my meds every day and try to eat right and get enough sleep. i also quit drinking and smoking a few years back. i don't really know how to get through to him. i've tried to be a good example but i just don't think he cares about himself?

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

Yeah, I'd not had one in eons myself and it suddenly popped into my head the other day, so I went to the supermarket and bought a six-pack of A&W and a large container of Turkey Hill vanilla ice cream = DELISH

Wow -- I had a root beer float Thursday afternoon, after coming back from mydoctor's. Before that, I'm sure it's been years since I've had one.

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"Life in Lubbock, Texas, taught me two things: One is that God loves you and you're going to burn in hell. The other is that sex is the most awful, filthy thing on earth and you should save it for someone you love." - Butch Hancock, Musician, The Flatlanders

do i find that there are lots and lots of hiv poz men that dont look after there bodys?

since i became poz i took a good look at myself, joined a gym went on a good diet, i am now fit healthy and never felt better.

come on boiz lets get fit together

How do you know these "lots and lots" of poz men aren't working to take careof their bodies? Are you judging just based on outward appearances? Lookscan be deceiving, especially when one has HIV.

And, moreover, what business is it of yours what others do with their bodies?

Regards,

Henry

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"Life in Lubbock, Texas, taught me two things: One is that God loves you and you're going to burn in hell. The other is that sex is the most awful, filthy thing on earth and you should save it for someone you love." - Butch Hancock, Musician, The Flatlanders

after an 11 hour day away from home i'm exhausted its not easy then to say i'm full of energy lets go to the gym. I watch what i eat , i walk 20 minutes a day use the stairs instead of the lift , but fitting everything in with a busy working life is not easy.

cos maybe they're depressedor they have to pay for treatment and cant afford the gymor work long hours and have no timeor dont feel well enough to work outor have side effects and dont want to crap themselves in the middle of a workoutor have lipoatrophy which makes them have a big belly even if they work out all day every dayor have PN and can barely walk let alone excerciseor feel miserable around healthy athletic peopleor have other things going on that are not hiv related like taking care of parents

and probabaly a bunch of other reasons i couldnt think of right now

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"If you keep one foot in yesterday, and one in tomorrow, you piss all over today". Betty Tacy

One mens meat is another men's poison. Going to the gym and a good diet can work for others but to some it can be a killer than the virus itself. Some people dont take care of themselves not by choice but circumstances around them. I swear by Ben & Gerrys ice cream when I am stressed not because I dont know the amount of calories in it or because I want to be unhealth, its something I love.

For those who can take care of themselves keep it up, but to some of us who have issues in achieving it I raise a glass to them, Cheers

Lots of people fall into a unhealthy lifestyle . my two best friends who are partnerd and neg. have set in they're recliners and ate ice cream for 25 years to the point where they both have major health issues . When I visit , I mow grass , clean out the gutters and sometimes clean the house. I tease them that things must be pretty bad when you have to get a guy with aids to come over and do your chores .

cos maybe they're depressedor they have to pay for treatment and cant afford the gymor work long hours and have no timeor dont feel well enough to work outor have side effects and dont want to crap themselves in the middle of a workoutor have lipoatrophy which makes them have a big belly even if they work out all day every dayor have PN and can barely walk let alone excerciseor feel miserable around healthy athletic peopleor have other things going on that are not hiv related like taking care of parents

and probabaly a bunch of other reasons i couldnt think of right now

I agree with this post. You don't know what's going on in other people's lives. I went to the gym every day before being diagnosed, and thought that I was taking care of myself. I wasn't. Since then I've been depressed, poor, felt sick, felt miserable around other unthinkingly healthy people and it's all had an effect. Two years after diagnosis I'm gradually getting back to it. But you have to give people time, space and opportunity. Not everybody has that.

The other thing I'd like to point out is that even in the West HIV is a disease of people who are marginalized, stigmatized, poorer, more likely to have substance abuse problems, more likely to suffer from mental illness. HIV compounds all of those problems and makes them worse - and you want to know why they're not all on a treadmill?

There are of course all sorts of reasons why people - positive or negative - might not want to hit the gym. As others have said, it might be because they can't afford it, have side effects, can't fit it in around work etc. But I think what Simon was driving at is that there are some people who, following their diagnosis, go into a downward self-destructive spiral, probably because of the psychological impact of their diagnosis.

I have a friend who has done just that. Since his diagnosis, he has been hitting the drugs way too hard, partying too hard, has lost about half his body weight and been hospitalised three times. And it's not like his numbers are particularly bad, he's just not taking good care of himself. I think it's the "what the Hell, the worst has happened, I may as well go out with a bang" mentality. I also have a couple of friends who are now about twice the weight they used to be; at first they tried blaming it on lipo, but since they've been assured by their doc that it isn't lipo, the real reason is because they've spent the last few years sitting on their arses in front of the TV eating cake. Of course, if that's what makes them happy, great; but they're not happy about it. They spend a lot of time complaining that they're "too fat to go out" but won't (not can't) do anything about it.

Mitigating factors aside, I find it hard to understand anyone *not* wanting to take extra care of themselves post diagnosis, especially if they are - all things considered - perfectly able to do so. Personally I took it as a wake up call 'cos I was determined I wasn't going to let HIV get the edge over me. I did join a gym (after getting my side effects under control) and am now fitter and healthier than I've ever been. But there does seem to be a culture in the UK at the moment of not looking after oneself, whether positive or not. Just look at the number of obese kids we have, though that's hardly surprising considering that most kids' idea of a good time seems to be sitting in front of a Playstation with a Big Mac and large fries.

Thanks for the info Bettytacy - can't say I've had it, I don't think we have it over here. Sounds like a cross between Cola and Dr Pepper. I have heard of cream soda with ice cream, though. Very sinful...

To follow up on my previous post, and Simon's original point, I would just like to point out that taking regular exercise doesn't mean having to turn into a gym rat. You can increase the amount of exercise you do at no financial cost by making a few simple lifestyle changes such as choosing to leave the car at home for short journeys, or taking the stairs instead of the lift/elevator (assuming you're physically able to do so). Our bodies need exercise like they need food, water and sleep. Without it, muscles atrophy, bones and joints weaken, blood pressure goes up etc.

If we're to believe what we're being told (i.e. that we're all going to live near-n ormal lifespans), then we're going to need these bodies for a considerable time yet. so we might as well get used to the idea of looking after them.

or have lipoatrophy which makes them have a big belly even if they work out all day every dayor have PN and can barely walk let alone excercise

THANK YOU

You know, my lipo is so fucking bad on my ass that even sitting for 2 minutes on a gym bicycle thingie is painful... seriously. And before you pipe up about something you obviously know nothing about, NLEWLAD, no -- doing squats won't bring back anything there. It's fat distribution issues, not lean muscle mass. My muscle/fat index thingie actually comes up optimal when I've gone to the nutritionoist.

I used to go to the gym religiously 5 days/week years ago. Once lipo hit I figure what's the point. You do all of that working out and you still look like shit. And yeah -- it's fucking depressing so I just don't bother. Screw it.

I *do* like Dr. Pepper. Root beer is nasty cuz it has that licorice type flavor. I cannot STAND licorice or chicory (that nasty crap they put in coffee sometimes).

Actually, I'm a big fruit juice drinker. Have to be careful with those, as even they frequently have a lot of added sugar - but I can seriously gulp down some juice.

Oh, and regarding the topic here: My biggest deterrent to working out over the last couple of years has been that I have felt too damn tired all the time to do it. That's changing bigtime now that I am on a different combo, but it was no joke before.

Once lipo hit I figure what's the point. You do all of that working out and you still look like shit. And yeah -- it's fucking depressing so I just don't bother. Screw it.

Well, if the object of the exercise (no pun intended!) is to attain the "body beautiful" then I suspect that particular ship may have sailed for many of us, and at my age I freely include myself in that. But I think it's more to do with "keeping fit" rather than "looking fit," though I can see where you're coming from.

And before you pipe up about something you obviously know nothing about, NLEWLAD, no -- doing squats won't bring back anything there. It's fat distribution issues, not lean muscle mass.

Hmm. You know, since Simon started this thread he hasn't actually responded to any of the points that have been raised here. Perhaps we ought to extend him the courtesy of waiting for his response before ripping into him about something we think he might be about to say?

You'd be surprised walking down Canal St/Old Compton St/some other queer main drag how many of them buff boys is HIV-positive.

Having the virus is both motivating and demotivating in terms of being healthy. Motivation to keep fit changes for HIV-positive people from time to time (just like HIV-negative people).

Not all us HIV-positive folk is lads

You might have a six-pack with fat redistribution (like a friend of mine), but this probably is (A) a side effect of the weights/cardio to stave off heart disease (B) a side effect of the lipo ripping the fat off (C) not an enhancement of your David-Beckham-does-Armarni-£30-skids pulling power.

Not enough time and money goes into our cardiovascular health. This is probably the biggest long-term health issue once the virus is under control, and the meds don't help. Yes, we may be able to get off or arses ourselves and star training, but does anyone really mention CV health in a big way so we know why to get off our arses...?

But mostly, good on you for hitting the gym

- matt

Now playing: Chill FM (DAB station from The Big Chill people) and sunshine

My doctor repeatedly mentions CV health actually. I'm seriously contemplating joining the filthy little neighborhood gym (forget the name) as it's only a 7 block walk from my luxurious ghetto penthouse. Plus I think mostly straight Italian boys go there, so I'll be entertained. I don't think a membership there is that pricey, but generally gym memberships ARE expensive, and of course many HIVers in the US are not well off. My gym membership in NYC was easily $90/month IIRC. But yeah, I was in top shape for the first 10 years of my diagnosis. Shit can change quickly though... no denying that. Until I recuperated with Fuzeon 18 months ago there was just no way I could handle being in a gym.

So yes folks, go to the gym while you're actually physically able to, AND if you can afford it. Right now I have some lil' free weights sitting in the corner looking at me, and I get some serious CV walking up and down 4 flights of stairs every day... plus I don't own a car so I walk every where. A lard ass I am not, though I could stand to lose 10 lbs -- but really that's quite easily achievable.

If it makes you feel any better I just baked some brownies and had two fried eggs and biscuits for brekkie. I'm off to the store right now for beer and charcoal, I'll be firing up the grill later.

Bitch please. I had tater tots for breakfast, with ketchup. I actually have some Ghirardelli Ultimate Fudge brownie mix in the kitchen. Maybe I'll make some today -- thanks for the reminder.

I got out two pork chops from my freezer that my mother sent back with me, and I have a box of Goya arroz con habichuelas coloradas that I'll make with it, and perhaps a salad of mixed organic field greens, whole grain croutons and caesar dressing.